Hardwicke Hall Manor Hotel

We were given afternoon tea as a birthday present and had it on a sunny Saturday in March. Everything was well organised, the food was fresh, and they kept topping up the nice coffee. We sat outside in the sunshine to finish it. A lovely experience.

The carvery was excellent and great value, and the cooked breakfast had plenty of choice. Everyone on staff was very, very friendly. The car park is shared with a car-selling business, though, and its surface is awful. It badly needs tidying, separating and relaying. The rooms are tired and dated, but that’s understandable in a 600-year-old building. All in all, it was a nice hotel and did the job for our visit to the area.

The venue was nice, and the staff were friendly and helpful. The afternoon tea, though, was really poor. The tea tasted like Tetley, the desserts felt mass-produced, like buffet desserts at an all-inclusive, and the sandwiches had very little filling. The portions of jam and cream were small and not very good.

For a midweek carvery, this is the place to go. The meat and vegetables are fresh, the gravy is lovely, and there’s a nice range of desserts, though I’m usually too full for them. Prices are £8-95 for a small plate and £10-95 for a standard one. You won’t find better value and quality together. Excellent service and a nice East Durham welcome. Skip Toby and come here instead.